On February 2 we celebrate the feast of the Lord's presentation in the temple. Forty days after his birth, Mary and Joseph, his parents, presented him in the Temple as was commanded in the Law of Moses. It is a very old feast in the Church, originating in Jerusalem in the fourth century. At that time, the feast was called the Meeting of Jesus with Simeon and Anna (see Luke 2,22-40, today’s Gospel). How much it meant to these two holy people to recognize in Jesus the answer to their prayer and longing! Do we have this same longing? Do we recognize the Lord when we meet him?

On this day, it is the custom to bless candles – perhaps because Simeon said that Jesus was “a light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Israel (Luke 2,32). We bless the candles that will be used at Church during the coming year. In many places, candles for home use are also blessed. Candles are very popular in Norway in the long months of winter. Perhaps their shining light can be a reminder to us of Jesus who is our true light (John 8:12).

In the liturgy of the feast, there is a procession with lighted candles. The early Cistercians lit their newly blessed candles from the flame that burned in the sanctuary of their Church, from the fire that had been blessed at the Easter Vigil in the previous year. They knew that Jesus was their true Light and that through his resurrection, his Light had overcome the darkness of death.

Let us hasten today to meet our Lord with his light burning brightly not only in our hands but in our hearts.